News: Could offensive line injuries cost MacKenzy Bernadeau his job?

[CCBoy]

Could offensive line injuries cost MacKenzy Bernadeau his job?
By Thomas Duck

Read more at http://cover32.com/cowboys/2015/08/...ckenzy-bernadeau-his-job/#m684fwqVEugYX4qr.99

NFL training camps can be brutal on a player’s body. Day after day of contact drills will eventually take its toll on the human body. When a particular position group sees more than its share of injuries it can cause coaches to get creative with lineups in practice. The Dallas Cowboys have suddenly found themselves thin at offensive tackle and are starting to tinker with the offensive line. This might spell the end for one of the team’s only experienced backup linemen.

Stud left tackle Tyron Smith injured his biceps in practice last Tuesday. While the injury isn’t considered serious it is enough for Coach Jason Garrett to hold him out of practice while he recuperates. In his absence the team has been taking a look at La’el Collins in the tackle spot. Reports from camp also indicate the staff has been trying All-Pro guard Zack Martin at center.

The belief is that Collins might be able to play both tackle spots as well as both guard spots, and Martin is capable of playing at all five offensive line positions. Last season veteran lineman MacKenzy Bernadeau was the primary backup for all three interior line positions and the now departed Jeremy Parnell covered the swing tackle duties.

Most NFL teams carry 7-8 offensive linemen on game days, five starters and two or three backups. With this type of numbers game, it becomes imperative for teams to have backups who can step in and play at multiple spots. Collins is pushing incumbent Ron Leary for the starting right guard job and no matter who wins; a very good interior lineman is going to be pushed to the bench. If Martin is seen as an adequate option at center the Cowboys would be able to carry just seven players to cover the offensive line duties. In those seven players they would have five tackles, three guards and two centers. In this scenario Bernadeau might have trouble making the 46 man game day roster this season.

If we take a look at a hypothetical injury situation, we can highlight how the Cowboys young player’s position flexibility would allow the team to operate with only seven linemen. Imagine a scenario in which Dallas loses starting center Travis Frederick in the second quarter of a game. Assuming that Leary keeps his right guard spot, Martin would move from left guard to center and Collins would take over for Martin at left guard. If, later in the same game, Frederick is able to recover and resume playing but left tackle Smith goes down, either Darrion Weems or Collins could then switch to right tackle allowing Doug Free to take over for Smith...

 

[Bullflop]

Looks like a sample of hand wringing by the scribe, Mr. Duck. Maybe we'd best wait to see what happens, sir.
There's nothing going on here that doesn't occur each and every year on the OL. Just precautionary measures, as usual. Hopefully, our depth on the OL will remain intact. Pretty sure the staff wants to see that as well.

 

[Proximo]

Well would you look at that, an article based on pure speculation. I was also annoyed by how there were multiple instances where he referred to Leary as the "starting right guard".

If you're going to write a piece about the O-line at least get the players/positions right.

 

[jazzcat22]

Collins will not be playing OT unless it is an extreme emergency. He has at OG in TC, not at OT. Garrett said he is better suited for OG and won't be moved around to hinder any progress.
Do these reporters not listen (rhetorical question) lol. But things can get missed, can't expect them to hear or read or see everything.

They have to try different players at C to have options behind the options. So I can can see someone writing some speculation in a way. But not to cost Bernardeau his OL spot. A team may have 7 or 8 active on game day, but they carry 8 or 9, with that, Gibson being the 9th, he would. Be inactive. I don't they they would take a chance on going short on the OL by trying to have too many players that can play too many positions. Roster spots are a premium, but not at the expense of protecting your QB.

 

[CCBoy]

I think that the premise is: that injuries have forced linemen to play a multitude of alternate positions, and in the process, became proficient enough to make feasible the loss of Bernadeau. I don't know that for a fact, but it is a possible consideration.

Myself, with injuries, I would over react and protect alternatives instead.

 

[CCBoy]

Collins will not be playing OT unless it is an extreme emergency. He has at OG in TC, not at OT. Garrett said he is better suited for OG and won't be moved around to hinder any progress.
Do these reporters not listen (rhetorical question) lol. But things can get missed, can't expect them to hear or read or see everything.

They have to try different players at C to have options behind the options. So I can can see someone writing some speculation in a way. But not to cost Bernardeau his OL spot. A team may have 7 or 8 active on game day, but they carry 8 or 9, with that, Gibson being the 9th, he would. Be inactive. I don't they they would take a chance on going short on the OL by trying to have too many players that can play too many positions. Roster spots are a premium, but not at the expense of protecting your QB.

I think that Collins has some practice time at left tackle as well, and that is for alternatives in a swing position as well.

 

[JohnsKey19]

Doesn't make sense unless they are pinching pennies. Bern is the most versatile and experienced OL on the roster.

 

[Stash]

So, the contention is that, given our rash of recent injuries on the offensive line, we would choose to go with less depth this year?



Riiiiggggghhhhhttttttt......

 

[big dog cowboy]

So, the contention is that, given our rash of recent injuries on the offensive line, we would choose to go with less depth this year?



Riiiiggggghhhhhttttttt......

No kidding. Something tells me the writer is a little:

 

[TwoCentPlain]

While Leary was getting an MRI on his back and Martin was laying on the ground with doctors checking his hand and leg movement, I was thinking that it was nice to have Bernadeau as a backup. I don't know what got over me. Then again, I thought Sargent Pepper was a good album.

 

[CowboyRoy]

I think that Collins has some practice time at left tackle as well, and that is for alternatives in a swing position as well.

Without question. It was the first place they put him at OTA's. They want tall these cats to be able to play multiple positions in a pinch.

 

[conner01]

I know Collins lined up at tackle during OTA but don't remember reading he has during camp
Did I miss him playing tackle during camp?

 

[Doomsdayblitz]

I think that Bernadeau has been an overpaid underachiever ever since he got here, so I would be glad to see him go. It will show that we have the depth to dump second rate players like him.

 

[Idgit]

Backup interior OLs who can play three game day positions at a fairly high level don't grow on trees. Bernadeau has been a good signing for us, and anybody unhappy with him is still hanging onto their dissatisfaction with the way the OL was rebuilt in the first place, as far as I'm concerned. And that debate ought to be long over at this point for anybody who's been paying attention to what the team has actually done, because they've done it with multiple other position groups, too, including the DL the last two offseasons. It's kind of an established model for us at this point.

 

[erod]

Ridiculous.

Bernadeau is the best option to Frederick at center, and he can play guard well, too.

 

[erod]

Thomas Duck, from the long English lineage of Ducks, known as the Nottingham Duck Dynasty.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

If a starter going down causes a backup to lose his job, then he probably wasn't a good backup to begin with.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

He said Collins has been getting time at both tackle spots. That's not true.

Journalism these days...

 

[blindzebra]

Not one thing in that article is correct. Collins has not gotten work at LT. Martin is a RG, Leary plays LG.

Now I can see them wanting Collins active on game day if Leary holds them off but that would not mean Bernadeau gets cut, it means the in game back up center is Martin and Collins plays RG, and if Frederick is out before a game Bernadeau starts at center.

 

[gimmesix]

I think that the premise is: that injuries have forced linemen to play a multitude of alternate positions, and in the process, became proficient enough to make feasible the loss of Bernadeau. I don't know that for a fact, but it is a possible consideration.

Myself, with injuries, I would over react and protect alternatives instead.

I think Bernadeau's job is safe as long as he is far above any of the other backups other than Collins. Cross-training backups is what Dallas does. Berny can play three spots. Won't be surprised if Collins is able to play four by the time camp is over.